The Parramatta Eels have continued their bold pursuit to fill out their roster as they close in on signing Penrith centre Waqa Blake before the June 30 deadline.

In October, Blake signed an extension with the Panthers to keep him at the club until the end of 2023, and now the Eels look set to take on the burden of paying his hefty salary after he was officially granted a released by Penrith on Wednesday.

Blake is currently sidelined until round 20-21 with a grade-three medial ligament tear to his knee in Penrith's 16-10 win against the Eels over a month ago.

The Eels have been on the hunt to bolster their outside backs and front row forwards and Blake would provide some much-needed strike power and size to their backline inside Blake Ferguson.

Blake could play for the Eels in a week. (AAP)

Penrith is looking to cut players from their roster after committing more than half of their salary cap on long term deals. New coach Ivan Cleary has taken a razor to some of the deals established under former GM Phil Gould.

Cleary dropped Blake for the side's clash against the Wests Tigers during Magic Round after the centre misread the squad's schedule and showed up late for training.

His late omission from the side forced back-rower Tyrell Fuimaono to slot into the centres and the Tigers exploited the right edge early in the first half in that clash to race out to a 26-0 lead. Two weeks later Blake injured his knee.

It's said the club's bid to get Tyronne Peachey back to the club from the Titans facilitated Blake's departure.